Electric range



July 27, 1948. w. P. CAMERON 2,446,063

ELECTRIC RANGE Filed June 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l n e w E w m m L; 1%; C "ENE Q Q m Q m y A W July 27, 1948. w. P. CAMERON ELECTRIC RANGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 000 OOE 0000000 w m m m m INVENTOR. W/W/am F1 Came/or;

July 27, 1948. w. P. CAMERON ELECTRIC RANGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1946 Me n m ,M mc H R m f M W r W m July 27, 1948. w. P. CAMERON 2,446,063

ELECTRIC RANGE Filed June 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V in I ,5

i i I! Wl'l/fam P. Came/or? Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFIEE ELECzislz j ANGE.

William 1. Cameron, New'York, N. Y.

8. Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my application filed February 27, 1945, Serial No. 579,942 (now abandoned). I

The invention relates, to cooking ranges and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations. herein described and claimed.

It: is the cardinal object of the invention, to

provide a noyelconstruction ofv range wherein a; plurality of cooking units are supported in superposed relation so as to occupy a minimum of space, the units being movable to position laterally of the support forreception of a cooking vesselorthelike. More specifically, it is an object: of the invention to provide very compact construction of range wherein an upright member swingably supports a plurality of heating units arranged one above the other, certain units being oscillatable about thesupport toexpose a hotplate for heating of areceptacle; there being means to limit oscillation of the heating units beyond a predetermined point; each unit including individual means for controlling the heating of the hot plates and further, each unit includes .a support legor legs for maintaining the units in a stable horizontal position.

It is a still. further object of the invention to provide a. novel construction of switch for each heating unit, including, means preventing operation ofv the switches when. the heating units are arranged in superposed closed relation, the switch of the top unit, however, being freely operative to energize the circuit thereto, enabling use of the top unit alone, as will be found desirable at times. Another important feature of the switch is the provision of cooperating means between certain of the heating units to efiect opening of the switches upon oscillation of the units to their closed superposed relation, avoiding liability of closing the units while the heating elements are energized.

It is alsoan object. ofthe invention to provide a range of the-kindspecified in which one or more of" the units maybe constructed asa. grill, waffle iron or the like, enabling awider range of. use.

Additional objects; advantages and features of invention. will. be" apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the range in closed: position.

- Figure 2 is a. similar view in open operating position. Figure 3 is a. front: elevation of the range. in open position. .Figure 4. is a. similar view; showing. the, range in. closed position.

Figure 5 is a bottom. view. of, the .range, one unit, being moved to. open position, with. the guard'plateremoved.

Figure 5A.- is a fragmentary cross section through one of the units illustrating-the means for actuating the switch upon, closing movement of the heating units.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the range with the top unit swung to one side, the; other units being in. fragmentary section to illustrate the switch devices.

Figure 7 is a top pla-nview of one of the switch tripping and lock plates.

Figure 8 isan end viewthereof.

Figure 9 isan enlarged vertical section through the support post.

Figure 10 is a similar view at right angles to Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross section on: theline H-H of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is across section on theline l.2.-l2 of. Figure 1.0.

Figure 13 is a cross section onv the line |3-|3 of Figure 10.

Figure 14. is. a modified showing of. the range adapted, to be. supported. upon a wall surface.

Figure 15 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 16 is a side elevation of a further form of the device.

Figure 17. is a side elevation. of the range in which one of the units is.v constructed as a grill or wafile iron.

Figure 18 is a cross section through one, of the heating units.

There is illustrated a range generally indicated by the reference character 10, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, embodying three. heating units II, !2 and i3, oscillatably mounted upon a support base M, as will now be described.

Attention is invited to Figures 5 and 6, of the drawings, wherein there is shown a casting 15 in the form of an annulus having integrally formed therewith a bracket arm l5 extended from the periphery of the annulus. The upper surface of the casting. and the bracket arm are smooth and planiform, the arm at its extremity beingformecl with a vertical bore l8, adapted to receive a hollow post It fixed in the support base M, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The castings E5 of the units are similar in construction including a downwardly presented flange 2!! concentric with the outer wall of the casting-, but spaced inwardly therefrom, the flange being of lesser depth than the outer wall. Between the outer wall of the casting and the flange 20 at. diametrically-opposite spaced points, abutments 2| are formed. integrally cast" between the wall-and flange of thecastingand as best shown in Figure 18'; the abutments include a lip 22 of a length to project-beyond the flange 20 a distance, so as to afford support for a. heating element 23 disposed thereupon. The heating elements, are" additionally supported by It will be seen that the lips 22 support the heating unit in one direction, while the plate 24 by virtue of the engagement with the flange 20 will support the unit from the opposite direction and in order that lateral movement of the plate will be prevented, opposed lugs 28 are formed upon the base of the unit spaced to receive the plate therebetween.

The abutments are each formed with a threaded opening 22s for reception of a fastening for mounting of a cover plate 30, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. One abutment .25 is of greater width and is formed with a second tapped opening for reception of threaded bolt M for pivotally mounting a switch lever as. The lever 32 is of bell crank shape. one leg 33 being extended through a slot 363 formed in the outer wall of the casting l and receives an operating knob 35. The other leg as of the lever has pivotally connected thereto a link 3?, extended rearwardly into a switch compartment 38 defined by the side walls of the bracket arm it, and a closure plate 39 suitably bolted in threaded lugs 40.

A. toggle switch ii is positioned within the compartment 35! secured to the underside of the arm is as indicated at 42, the switches of units including an operating handle 43 to which the inner end or" the link at is connected.

The handles (it of switches associated with units ii and i2 are of a length so as to project through slots (is formed in respective bracket arms 56.

Switches H are connected to respective heatelements iifiiby leads 55 and 38, the opposite side of the switches being electrically connected to a conductor M by leads Z8 and 49, the latter passing through suitable slots formed in the hollow post i 1-3 as will be described hereinafter. The switches may be insulated by means of asbestos strips at, so as to prevent heat radiation from the heating units.

The castings B5 are formed with three bosses iii circumferentially spaced, each boss being formed with an opening 52, which in the case of the unit it mounts respective leg elements 53 for support of the unit upon a surface. The units l2 and it are each provided with a single leg 54 bolted to the periphery of respective units so located that the legs will be in parallel relation when the units are in closed position, as clearly shown in Figure 4, and since the leg of the middle unit is shorter than the leg of the top unit, a section 54' corresponding to the shape of the legs is secured to the top unit adapted to register with the leg of the middle unit for the sake of appearance and continuity. Preferably, the legs are provided with heat insulating foot portions 55.

In the present construction, the middle unit I2 is held stationary upon the post l9 while the lower unit it and the upper unit is are oscillatable within limits, so as to present the units at right angles to each other, as shown in Figure 2.

In order that the mounting of the units may be understood, attention is invited to Figures 9 to 13. The post I9 is formed with three vertically spaced concentric slots =56, 51 and 58 complemental to respective slots 59, 60 and 6| of the bracket arms it. The slots 56 and 58 of units it and i3 are of a length slightly less than onehalf the circumference of the post I9, as may be see in Figures 11 and 13, positioned upon opposite sides of the post, while the slot 57 of unit 12 is of a length the same as slot 65] of the bracket arm.

Each closure plate 39 is provided with a lug 62, which when in operative position upon the units will extend through slots 59, 61) and BI of the-bracket arms and into respective slots 56, iii and 58, respectively. As may be seen in Figure 12, the lug 62 occupies the full length of the slots 5? and iii} so that oscillation of the middle unit If! is prevented. However, in the case f the lower unit l i and upper unit l3, when these units are oscillated, which will be in 0pposite directions, the lug e2 will traverse the slots 55 and 58 the full length thereof, the lugs limiting movement of the units by engagement with the ends of the slots. Insulator bushings 63 are mounted in slots 53, so and GI so as to protect the leads 48 and 49.

The units Ii, i2 and it are secured in position upon the post by means of a cap 64 pressfitted upon the upper end of the post, the base M being frictionally fitted to the lower end of the post and secured by an Allen screw 65.

The closure plates 39 of units l2 and I3 are each formed with a downwardly struck arcuate cam 66 the edge 6? of which lies in the path of the handle 43 of units H and 12 when the handles are in on position as shown in Figure 5-A. Therefore, when these units are moved into closed position, the switches will be moved into oiT positions and held against actuation so long as the edge 61 engages the handles 43. In other words, when the units are in closed position as shown in Figure 1, the heating elements of units H and it cannot be energized through actuation of their switches, although the switch of the upper unit may be actuated to energize the heating unit thereof since the operating handle of the switch ,is not affected by the unit 12 therebelow.

The cover plate 38 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 3!! spaced inwardly of the periphery of the plate for the purpose of ventilation, and the plate 355 may also be provided with such openings.

In actual construction of the range, the unit I l is equipped with a heating element of 220 watts; the unit I 2 with a heating element of 500 watts, and the uppermost unit is provided with a heating element of 600 watts, the greater heat thus being at an elevation a substantial distance above a supportin surface.

In Figures 14 and 15, the heating units are shown as supported between wall brackets 15, the construction being the same as before described with the exception that the support legs 53, and 54 are omitted.

In Figure 16 a series of units are shown mounted upon an upright post 75 fixed between a floor 71 and a longitudinal abutment I8. This form of the device will be found highly satisfactory for use in lunch rooms and like places where numerous units would be required and only a limited space is available. In this form, the supporting legs 53 and 54 are omitted.

The modification shown in Figure 1'7 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 11, but in this instance, the heating unit 13 is replaced by a grill or wafile iron.

The present description has referred particularly to electrically heated units, but obviously, gaseous or liquid fuels may be employed by merely substituting flexible tubing for the electrical wiring and conventional control valves for the switches shown, and replacing the heating unit with a conventional burner.

It will be understood that in constructing a range of the electrical type, all precautions must be taken to provide the necessary insulation of wires, switches, etc. to meet all possible fire hazards, and since the practice of installing insulation is quite common and well understood, no attempt has been made to show a specific manner of providing such insulation of the parts.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that a range has been provided which is of extremely simple construction, of compact form in which the heating units are supported in a manner in which a circulation of air is provided beneath the heating units, preventing excessive heat therebeneath. It will be seen that the range is so constructed as to be quickly adjusted from a single heating unit to a plurality of heating units, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

A further form of the device contemplates the superposed spaced arrangement of the heating units in which the units are housed in individual casings, slidably, so that the units may be withdrawn to expose the heating surfaces thereof.

While I have shown and specifically described the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A range and the like comprising a base having an upright post, a plurality of heating units mounted on said post, normally arranged one above the other, said heating units being oscillatable to positions so as to expose the heating elements of respective heating units, means between each heating unit and said post for limiting oscillation of said heating units, and each heating unit including support means adapted to contact the surface upon which said base is positioned.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which one of said heating units is a wafile iron.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which one of said heating units is constructed as a grill.

4. A range and the like comprising a support means, a plurality of hot plates arranged on said supporting means one above the other, each hot plate including a heating element and a control switch therefor, certain of said hot plates being oscillatable about the support means so as to expose the heating element of respective hot plates, certain of said hot plates having means for actuating the control switch of the hot plate next below to the ofi position of the switch when said hot plates are moved into superposed relation.

5. A range and the like comprising a base having a hollow upright support, a heating unit fixed medially of the upright support, said support having an opening in a side thereof, a pair of horizontally disposed slots being formed in the support and vertically spaced, a heating unit oscillatable on said support complemental to each slot, each heating unit including a switch and an electrically energized heating element, conductor wires extended through said opening and said slots for connection with respective switches and heating elements, a stop means between each of said pair of oscillatab-le heating units and said support for limiting oscillation of said heating units, and each of said heating units having support means.

6. A range and the like comprising a support means, a plurality of hot plates arranged oscillatably on said support means one above the other, each hot plate including a heating element and a control switch, an operating handle connected to each switch and exposed at the periphery of each hot plate, certain of said hot plates having a switch handle exposed above the surface of the hot plates and cam means on the hot plate thereabove for moving and holding said switch handle to off position upon movement of said hot plates into superposed relation.

'7. A range and the like comprising an upright hollow support, three heating units mounted on said upright support, said upright support having a pair of horizontal slots spaced and aligned with openings formed in the lower and upper heating units, an opening being formed in said upright support in registry with an opening in the unit disposed between the lower and upper units, a plate carried by each unit, each plate having a lug disposed through respective horizontal slots and the opening of said upright support, the lug disposed within the opening being substantially the same width as the opening whereby to hold the heating unit associated therewith against oscillation about said upright support and the lugs of the other heating units acting as stop means to limit oscillation thereof upon contact with ends of said horizontal slots.

8. A range and the like comprising a base, a hollow upright support thereon, a heating unit oscillatably mounted on the upright support, a second heating unit on the upright support and fixed thereto, a third heating unit oscillatably mounted on the upright support above the second heating unit, each of the units having a heating .element and a switch for control of electrical energy to respective heating elements, each of the switches having an operating handle, a lever connected to respective handles, a switch lever mounted on the periphery of each heating unit and operatively connected to respective levers, the operating handles of the switches of the first and second named heating units projecting above the upper surfaces thereof, and cam means on the underside of the third and second-named heating units adapted to engage the operating handles upon oscillation of the units to a superposed position to move and hold said handles in the off position of said switches.

WILLIAM P. CAMERON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,552,335 Mottlau Sept. 1, 1925 1,567,585 Feldman Dec. 29, 1925 1,584,281 Dumas May 11, 1926 1,959,935 Shroyer May 22, 1934 1,975,320 Hamilton Oct. 2, 1934 2,063,407 Smith Dec. 8, 1936 

